Systems and methods for controlling DSRC communications

Abstract

A DSRC controller used for controlling a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) device is provided. The DSRC controller includes a processor communicatively coupled to a memory device. The processor is programmed to store a communication profile of the DSRC device. The communication profile includes rules for transmitting and receiving communications by the DSRC device. The processor is also programmed to receive DSRC zone information describing a DSRC zone, determine a current location of the DSRC device, compare the current location to the DSRC zone information, determine whether the DSRC device is located within a DSRC zone based on the comparison, and if the determination is that the DSRC device is located within the DSRC zone, update the communication profile based on the DSRC zone information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A DSRC controller used for controlling a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) device, said DSRC controller comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a memory device, said processor programmed to:
 store a communication profile of the DSRC device, wherein the communication profile includes rules for transmitting and receiving electronic communications by the DSRC device; 
 receive DSRC zone information describing a DSRC zone; 
 determine a current location of the DSRC device; 
 compare the current location to the DSRC zone information; 
 determine whether the DSRC device is located within a DSRC zone based on the comparison; and 
 if the determination is that the DSRC device is located within the DSRC zone, update the communication profile of the DSRC device to turn off transmission of electronic messages within the DSRC zone by the DSRC device. 
 
     
     
       2. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 store a plurality of map information including a DSRC layer, wherein the DSRC layer includes one or more DSRC zones; and 
 add the received DSRC information to the DSRC layer. 
 
     
     
       3. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said processor is further programmed to compare the current location to the DSRC layer to determine whether the current location is within a DSRC zone included in the DSRC layer. 
     
     
       4. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the DSRC zone information includes at least a location and a type for the DSRC zone. 
     
     
       5. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the DSRC zone information describes a temporary DSRC zone. 
     
     
       6. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 receive a message indicating the temporary DSRC zone has ended; and 
 update the communication profile to remove the DSRC zone information. 
 
     
     
       7. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine the current location of the DSRC device based on at least one of location information from a global positioning system (GPS) device and location information from a Wi-Fi positioning system. 
     
     
       8. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine if the current location is within a predetermined distance from the DSRC zone based on the DSRC zone information. 
     
     
       9. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 determine an updated current location for the DSRC device at a subsequent time; 
 determine that the DSRC device is not located within the DSRC zone based on the updated current location and the DSRC zone information; and 
 update the communication profile to remove the DSRC zone information. 
 
     
     
       10. A DSRC controller in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to update the communication profile to activate an information download mode. 
     
     
       11. A computer-based method for controlling a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) device, said method implemented using a DSRC controller in communication with a memory, said method comprising:
 storing, in the memory a communication profile of the DSRC device, wherein the communication profile includes rules for transmitting and receiving electronic communications by the DSRC device; 
 receiving, at the DSRC controller, DSRC zone information describing a DSRC zone; 
 determining, by the DSRC controller, a current location of the DSRC device; 
 comparing, by the DSRC controller, the current location to the DSRC zone information; 
 determining, by the DSRC controller, whether the DSRC device is located within a DSRC zone based on the comparison; and 
 if the determination is that the DSRC device is located within the DSRC zone, updating the communication profile of the DSRC device to modify how the DSRC device transmits and receives electronic messages based on the DSRC zone information; 
 determining an updated current location for the DSRC device at a subsequent time; 
 determining that the DSRC device is not located within the DSRC zone based on the updated current location and the DSRC zone information; and 
 updating the communication profile to remove the DSRC zone information. 
 
     
     
       12. A method in accordance with  claim 11  further comprising:
 storing a plurality of map information including a DSRC layer, wherein the DSRC layer includes one or more DSRC zones; and 
 adding the received DSRC information to the DSRC layer. 
 
     
     
       13. A method in accordance with  claim 12  further comprising comparing the current location to the DSRC layer to determine whether the current location is within a DSRC zone included in the DSRC layer. 
     
     
       14. A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the DSRC zone information describes a temporary DSRC zone, and wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a message indicating the temporary DSRC zone has ended; and 
 updating the communication profile to remove the DSRC zone information. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having processor-executable instructions embodied thereon, for controlling a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) device, wherein when executed by a DSRC controller communicatively coupled to a memory, the processor-executable instructions cause the DSRC controller to:
 store a communication profile of the DSRC device, wherein the communication profile includes rules for transmitting and receiving electronic communications by the DSRC device; 
 receive DSRC zone information describing a DSRC zone; 
 determine a current location of the DSRC device; 
 compare the current location to the DSRC zone information; 
 determine whether the DSRC device is located within a DSRC zone based on the comparison; and 
 if the determination is the DSRC device is located within the DSRC zone, update the communication profile of the DSRC device to turn off transmission of electronic messages within the DSRC zone by the DSRC device. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the DSRC controller to:
 store a plurality of map information including a DSRC layer, wherein the DSRC layer includes one or more DSRC zones; and 
 add the received DSRC information to the DSRC layer. 
 
     
     
       17. The computer readable storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the DSRC controller to compare the current location to the DSRC layer to determine whether the current location is within a DSRC zone included in the DSRC layer. 
     
     
       18. A DSRC controller used for controlling a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) device, said DSRC controller comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a memory device, said processor programmed to:
 store a communication profile of the DSRC device, wherein the communication profile includes rules for transmitting and receiving electronic communications by the DSRC device; 
 receive DSRC zone information describing a temporary DSRC zone; 
 determine a current location of the DSRC device; 
 compare the current location to the DSRC zone information; 
 determine whether the DSRC device is located within a DSRC zone based on the comparison; 
 if the determination is that the DSRC device is located within the DSRC zone, update the communication profile of the DSRC device to modify how the DSRC device transmits and receives electronic messages based on the DSRC zone information; 
 receive a message indicating the temporary DSRC zone has ended; and 
 update the communication profile to remove the DSRC zone information. 
 
     
     
       19. A computer-based method for controlling a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) device, said method implemented using a DSRC controller in communication with a memory, said method comprising:
 storing, in the memory a communication profile of the DSRC device, wherein the communication profile includes rules for transmitting and receiving electronic communications by the DSRC device; 
 receiving, at the DSRC controller, DSRC zone information describing a temporary DSRC zone; 
 determining, by the DSRC controller, a current location of the DSRC device; 
 comparing, by the DSRC controller, the current location to the DSRC zone information; 
 determining, by the DSRC controller, whether the DSRC device is located within a DSRC zone based on the comparison; 
 if the determination is that the DSRC device is located within the DSRC zone, updating the communication profile of the DSRC device to modify how the DSRC device transmits and receives electronic messages based on the DSRC zone information; 
 receiving a message indicating the temporary DSRC zone has ended; and 
 updating the communication profile to remove the DSRC zone information.